Safety purse device



June 25, J, T, HEBRON SAFETY PURSE DEVICE Filed Oct. 1, 1955 INVENTQR.

H e b ron W I HTTORNE y Julia Unite This invention relates to improvements in safety purses and devices and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device whereby theft or the operations of pickpockets are discouraged, and wherein novel means is pro vided to hinder their efforts in stealing purses, wallets, and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved safety purse device in which means is provided whereby the contents and articles disposed Within a purse, are secured therein, blocking the efforts of pickpockets and the like to remove them by stealth or otherwise, without the knowledge of the owner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved safety purse device in which there is a handbag or the like, and a wallet, interior smaller purse or the like normally carried therein and disposed therein, and novel means for securing saidwallet, interior smaller purse or the like against being removed or detached from the handbag by a pickpocket.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparel accessory in the nature of a handbag or the like, inside which there is normally carried and disposed, a smaller wallet, changepurse or the. like, or other accessory which is anchored to the interior of the handbag, so that the user may readily reach into the interior of the handbag and lift out the wallet, changepurse or the like, for convenience, but may do so while it still remains attached and anchored thereto, so that the efforts of a pickpocket or sneakthief to remove the wallet or the like surreptitiously will prove in vain altogether, and in fact must fail, since the parts are not readily detachable by anyone other than the user.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparel accessory in the nature of a handbag or the like, with interior wallet, changepurse or the like, which is anchored therein by means of an elongated anchor cable, chain or the like, permitting limited elevation of the wallet out of the handbag for inserting and removing money therefrom, by the user, but insufficient for this to be done by a pickpocket without immediately arousing the attention of the user to the attempted theft.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved safety purse device which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, highly effective and efiicient in use, and which, while a safety device, yet does not interfere with every normal use of the purse and handbag by the user herself.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved safety purse device of the character described, which invention may be used on or applied to substantially all or most types and constructions of handbags and wallets, change purses or the like carried therein or for use therein.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention Will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which,

Figure 1 is a view showing a preferred form of the invention, as applied to a ladies handbag or purse, which in this view is shown in perspective, in closed position.

States Patent ice Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevational View taken substantially on plane 22 of Figure 1, and showing the interior of the handbag of Figure 1, with the wallet disposed inside-one of the pockets of the handbag, and secured thereto by the fastening means.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view similar to that of Figure 2, and taken on the same viewing plane, but showing the handbag with its top opened, and the wallet in outward position relativethereto, but secured thereto by the means shown.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale showing a portion of the structure of Figure 3, at the location indicated by arrow 4-4, the view differing only in that the safety fastening means is shown in Figure 4 in opened position, while in Figure 3 it is shown in locked position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken substantially on plane 55 of Figure 3, and showing one preferred form of releasable fastening means thereat.

The present invention is intended to combat the work of pickpockets, so as to make it difiicult if not impossible for them to steal a wallet or change purse or the like from the handbag of the user thereof. It is also intended to make itless likely to accidentally lose or drop the Wallet or change purse carried in the handbag. In crowded stores, and on busses and trains, or in elevators, the pickpockets make a practice of very carefully opening a ladies handbag, reaching in and taking out the wallet or change purse, containing her money, all with such skill and deftness as to be accomplished without her being aware that her handbag is even opened. Later, when she discoveres the contents missing, it is too late to apprehend the thief. According to the present invention, novel means are provided whereby the wallet or change purse or both, are made a part of the handbag, by releasable fastening means, which permit the user to take out her wallet or purse. for her own purposes, but do not permit the pickpocket to remove the wallet or purse without immediately arousing the attention of the owner, and thus permitting apprehension of the thief, or at least blocking stealing of the wallet or purse. The invention is applicable to practically any type of handbag, and hence is very convenient and useful.

In order to understand clearly the nature of the invention, and the best means for carrying it out, reference may now be had to the drawings, in which like numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown, there is a ladies handbag generally indicated at 10, employing the invention. The bag illustrated is one formof handbag which may be employed,

but I do not wish to be limited thereto, since it is by way of example, andother well known types of handbag may also be used therefor. The bag shown has a lower main housing 12 and an upper main housing or closure member 14, secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by means of hinges 15, or by a mutually integral web forming a hinge, or otherwise. The lower main housing 12 has a pair of end walls 24 and 26 extending up- 7 a front wall interconnected at its ends with end walls 31 V and 34, which are secured by means of a flange or flap 25 on their rearward edges, to the rear wall 27 of the lower chamber, in any suitable manner, as by adhesives, stitching, stapling, or integral plastic molding. The lower edge 35 of the pocket is also secured to the rear wall 27 in any such manner, to close this edge of the pocket, so as to define an upwardly open pocket chamber 33, for the reception of any desired articles, such as the wallet 50, for example, or a change purse, or both. As shown in Figure 2, the wallet 50 has been folded on its central foldable area 60, for ready insertion in the pocket 48.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the upper housing 14 may be formed with a main wall 13 interconnecting end walls 11, and defining a downwardly open chamber inside which, for convenience, a mirror 36 may be mounted in a frame 38, so that when it is opened, as in Figure 3, the mirror 36 assumes a vertical position, being secured to wall 13, for use by the owner of the bag. A pair of straps 16 and 18 are secured as at 22 to the front and rear walls 28 and 27 of the lower housing 12, for convenience in carrying by the owner. A releasable snap lock or latch 20, of any suitable type, may be secured to the upper or lower housing 12 or 14, for engagement with a hook or the like carried on the other, so that movement of lock 20 will release such locking engagement, and permit the top housing 14 to be tilted upward to open position, as in Figure 3, and returned to closed position as in Figures 1 and 2, when desired, being automatically locked again when thereat.

As seen best in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the wallet 50 may have front and rear main envelope walls 52 and 54 secured together at the bottom 64, and at the end edges, to define a chamber 53 for the reception of paper money or other papers, being thus in one form, open at the upper edge. A slide fastener may be applied along the upper edge of walls 54 and 52, if desired, to close the chamber 53 normally. A change pocket may be secured to wall 54, as at 56, which is closed by closure flap 62 and a snap fastener as shown. Several pages of card containing envelopes 58 may also be secured at their right edge adjacent center fold area 60, as seen in Figure 3, for the reception of cards, papers, and the like, or photographs.

An opening 66 is formed through the lower portion of fold area 60, and a bushing 68 is inserted therethrough, as seen best in Figure 5, the bushing having end flanges 70 and 72, to retain it in firm engagement therewith. A bore 76 is formed through the bushing 68, for the recep tion of one or more legs or fingers 78 carried by the swivel hub 80 and extending leftwardly as shown, through the bore 76, with their end fingers 86 arranged to extend over the left end portion 74 of the bushing 68, resiliently. That is, the fingers 78 are arranged with sufiicient resilience to allow them to be inserted through bore 76, springing somewhat for clearance, and then to snap radially outwardly when they clear the left end 74 of the bushing 68, thus being retained thereat releasably. A cap 82 is threaded onto the threaded left end 74 of the bushing 68, and serves to retain the left ends of members 78 in said engagement, being provided with a conical cam 84 or the like, which bears against the corresponding cam surface of fingers 78, to maintain their radial positions against withdrawal unless the cap 82 is removed.

The member 80 has an integral ring 88, which has an opening formed therethrough to receive the end connecting rod 90 of the chain 93, which permits some swivel action about the axis of rod 90, the inner end of rod 90 being enlarged to retain it in engagement with ring 88. The chain 93 has a number of hollow balls 92, each interconnected by means of connecting rods 94 or links which extend inside the hollow balls 92, and are retained therein by means of enlarged ends of the rods 94, but loosely enough to permit swivel action, and flexing of the chain as shown.

At its other end, as seen in Figures 3 and 4, the chain 93 has an end connecting rod 96 secured to ring 98 as shown, the end ring 98 being adapted to receive the leg 110 of the clasp member 102 inserted therethrough. The

member 102 has a web leg 100 which is bent around as at 104 to form a slide support rod 105 or shaft, with an upwardly open groove or socket 108 formed in its right end as seen in Figure 4, to receive the pointed left end of the leg 110 when the leg 110 is bent upwardly and allowed to rest in the socket 108. The leg 110 being resilient, and biased toward open position as shown, it is thus retained in socket 108. However, to enhance the locking action, I provide releasable locking means in the form of a slider or rider member 106, which is provided with an axial bore to receive the shaft 105, so as to slide therealong as shown by the double end arrow thereat. When the leg 110 is engaged with socket 108, then the slider 106 is moved to the right, to receive also the pointed end of leg 110 as it rests in its socket 108, thus holding them together. When the leg 110 is to be moved to open position, the rider 106 is moved to the left, allowing leg 110 to be moved to open position.

An opening 112 is provided in any wall of pocket 48, such as wall 31, to allow the leg 110 to be inserted therein as shown, for being secured to the pocket 48. This anchors the chain 93 to the inside of the handbag, and hence anchors the wallet 50, while the length and flexibility of the chain permits the owner to reach her wallet easily for insertion or removability of its contents. However, the pickpocket cannot remove the wallet, since it is firmly anchored to the handbag, and any pull thereon immediately warns the user of the attempted theft.

4 Although I have described my invention in specific terms, it will be understood that various changes may be made in size, shape, materials and arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

l. A safety purse device comprising handbag means defining a walled handbag interior chamber, pocket forming means carried in and secured permanently to a wall of said chamber, for receiving a wallet, changepurse or the like in said pocket means, and elongated flexible interconnecting means engaged at one end to said wallet, changepurse or the like, and releasably engaged at the other end to said pocket forming means, whereby said wallet, changepurse or the like is removable from said pocket means, while remaining attached thereto by said elongated interconnecting means.

, 2. A safety purse device for a handbag or the like, comprising a wallet formed with at least one wall, and having an opening formed through said wall, bushing means seated in said opening and secured thereto, chain means, end hub means carried by said chain means, engaging finger means carried by said end hub means and extending therefrom for insertion through said bushing means, and releasable locking means carried by said bushing means for blocking withdrawal of said engaging finger means from said bushing means, and locking pin clasp means carried on and secured to the other end of said .chain means, and constructed and arranged for being rele'asably secured to a handbag or the like, whereby said wallet is secured to said handbag or the like against undesired detachment therefrom, while limited movement of said wallet in displacement from said handbag or the like is possible.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 836,693 Marshall Nov. 27, 1906 1,213,758 Delaney Jan. 23, 1917 1,741,270 Altman Dec. 31, 1929' 2,071,757 Matthews Feb. 23, 1937 2,306,001 Struhl Dec. 22, 1942 2,413,465 Ohlsen Dec. 31, 1946 2,503,501 'Lutz Apr. 11, 1950 2,522,606 Curry Sept. 19, 1950 2,591,379 J Schradermeier Apr. 1, 1952 

